Newsflash: Coronavirus Impact on China

February 7, 2020

Dear Valued Customer,

The impact of the Coronavirus in China, where close to 60 million people are living in cities on lockdown, is fluid. Below you may find a chart and notes provided by our partner agents to serve as an update.

1.) Teams in China are increasingly utilizing their ability to work from home, or during off-peak hours
2.) The planned re-opening for people heading back to the office is February 17^th3.) The factory column is a consensus, although some factories may have a different plan
4.) Upon returning to work, staff will have to wear a mask to prevent the spread of disease. Currently these masks are not easy to find, so this may pose a problem.

The CDC answers the question: ‘Am I at risk for novel coronavirus from a package or products shipping from China?’ here.

Please contact your local Masterpiece representative with any questions.

Thank You,

Tariff Updates & Trade Compliance Updates

CBP (U.S. Customs and Border Protection) is moving fully electronic: After nearly 28 years of issuing paper checks, CBP will transition all refunds to electronic payments beginning February 6, 2026, with only limited exceptions.
Act Now to Avoid Delays: With a short window to prepare, importers should act now to prevent disruptions to duty drawback claims, Post Summary Corrections (PSC), and other post-entry refunds. Importers already enrolled in the electronic refund program should review their setup to ensure payments are received without interruption.
Supreme Court Update – Value of Services (VOS) Selections: While no decision has been issued, importers may want to prepare for potential changes. If favorable, IEEPA tariffs could no longer apply, though refunds would require documentation and follow-up. Keeping detailed records and ensuring electronic refund information is current can help you stay ready.

Helpful U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Resources to Get Started:

CBP Trade Portal Account: Use this portal to manage your trade account, update company information, and oversee electronic transactions with CBP. This is the primary platform for maintaining refund eligibility.
Modernized Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) Importer Account Application: This application allows importers to establish or update their trade account, a required step for enrolling in electronic refund payments.
Automated Clearing House (ACH) Refund Enrollment Guidance: U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s official guidance explains how to enroll in ACH for electronic refunds, including key requirements, timelines, and system updates importers should be aware of.

How Imperative Logistics Can Support You:

Electronic Refund Readiness: We provide guidance to help ensure your trade portal access and ACH electronic payment setup are ready for CBP’s new electronic refund process. The trade portal is U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s online system for managing import and export activity, while ACH is the banking network used to receive refunds electronically.
Refund & Post-Entry Guidance: Our team can help clarify how to track refunds and manage post-entry processes under CBP’s updated electronic-only refund requirements.
Third-Party Authorization Support: For importers who work with brokers or other third parties, we provide guidance on properly designating authorized parties under CBP rules.
Keeping You Informed: We monitor CBP notices, Federal Register updates, and regulatory trends, turning complex information into clear, actionable guidance so your business can stay compliant and prepared.

Have questions about how these tariff changes affect your shipments? Our team of experts is ready to provide guidance, please Contact Us anytime. For further details, please consult the latest Tariff Update and Reciprocal Tariff List for comprehensive information.

View the latest Tariff Information: